hms.scot
hms.scot

A Collection of entirely original Strathspey Reels
by Ladies, resident in a remote part of the Highlands of Scotland



Full title: A Collection of entirely original Strathspey Reels, Marches, Quick Steps &c. for the Piano-Forte, Violin, German Flute &c. &c. by Ladies resident in a remote part of the Highlands of Scotland NB. Corrected by Nath. Gow.

Publisher: Edinburgh: Gow & Shepherd

Date: [1796]

Description:

GB-Gm has two volumes bound together. The first volume also includes as part of the page sequence, 'Neil Gow's Strathspey and Mrs Dundas McQueen's Reel (Danced as a Medley at the Assemblys and Private Balls in EDINBURGH)' also 'Miss Maule of Panmure's Much admired Reel set for the PIANO FORTE.' This occupies three pages - there are also two copies of a two-page version of this with slightly differing first pages (watermark from 1794) included in GB-DUcl 10438.
The repertoire is quite varied: mostly simple tunes, some with substantial variations, in different styles. Besides strathspeys, jigs and marches, there are some character pieces.
Geographical references include Moray, Kilvarock, Cromarty, Metheven, Knockie, Nairnshire, and Melford (mostly east of Inverness).
Mike Bacchus in his catalogue of the GB-P Atholl Collection notes that "There are two editions of this Collection with 24 and 13 pages respectively. The contents of the 24 page issue are constant but that of the 13 page issue varies."

Notes:

The collection has simple basslines, mostly single lines with occasional chords, some Alberti basses and broken chords, and some pianistic high left-hand writing.
There are some variation sets towards the end, and paired Marches & Quick Steps for Kilravock Volunteers, 73rd Regiment, and Major Macbean 6th Regiment. Quicksteps are in common time and jig time.

RISM: G3225

Gore: L1

Link: British Library

Biographical info: These anonymous ladies in the 'remote' Highlands would appear to have had connections both with Edinburgh's ball-attending society, and with military families. Possibly be the Misses White, or a Miss White and a Miss Brocky, possibly of Morayshire (Gore, GB-A); or 'the Misses Whyte' (Kidson's pencil note in the copy now held by GB-Gm).

Location(s):

GB-A
Aberdeen University Library
GB-Bu
Birmingham University Library
GB-Cu
Cambridge University Library
GB-DRu
University Library, Durham
GB-DUcl
Dundee Central Library (Wighton Collection)
GB-En
National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh
GB-Ep
Edinburgh City Library
GB-Eu
Edinburgh University Library
GB-Gm
Mitchell Library, Glasgow
GB-Grc
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow
GB-Gu
University of Glasgow Library
GB-Lam
Royal Academy of Music, London
GB-Lbl
British Library, London
GB-Lcm
Royal College of Music, London
GB-Lcs
Vaughan Williams Memorial Library, Cecil Sharp House, London
GB-Mp
Manchester Public Library
GB-Mr
Manchester University Library
GB-NTu
Newcastle University Library
GB-Ob
Bodleian Library, University of Oxford
GB-P
A K Bell Library, Perth
GB-SA
Saint Andrews University Library
GB-SHE
Sheffield University Library
IRL-Dn
National Library of Ireland, Dublin
IRL-Dtc
Trinity College Dublin

GB-A Lib R f78155(41) Whi c
GB-A Hend inst Gow N e (1796)
GB-Cu MRA.340.75.3 (1796)
GB-Cu MRA.340.75.71 ([1796?])
GB-DUcl 7070
GB-En Glen 412 (listed as Gow, Nathaniel)
GB-En E.l.111 (North Bridge Street; signed by John Sturrock, 1800)
GB-Eu Scott.Stud.Lib
GB-Gm M8780 / 786.45
GB-Gu Ca12-y.31 ([1805?])
GB-Lbl g.230.bb.(5.). (Imperfect, cropped)
GB-Lbl h.830.j.(1.)
GB-P Af19

    Digitised items

    This source has not been digitised.